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The Grannies were honored to be included as allies at the Indigenous Womxn’s March on January 21. We hope our group will carry the messages of the blessings and speeches from this gathering into this year’s work. Click on the link to see images from the march.

On Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017, members of the Portland Raging Grannies joined others at the Verizon store in downtown Portland to raise our voices in support of the continuance of Net Neutrality. The FCC is due to vote on December 14, and thus far most members of the FCC have indicated their support of rescinding net neutrality. They have refused to delay the vote, so without intervention, we will lose net neutrality.

Net Neutrality is the basic principle that prohibits internet service providers (ISPs) like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon from speeding up, slowing down or blocking any content, applications or websites you want to use. It will allow ISPs to charge different rates for different access (fast lanes/slow lanes).

With the loss of net neutrality, the free and open internet is at risk. Having access to affordable internet is an important ingredient in full participation in work, schooling, and daily life in our technologically rich society. Without strong net neutrality protections, it is likely that competition among Internet providers will diminish and the cost of full access to the internet will increase.

We, the Portland Raging Grannies, implore Congress to bar the President of the United States from the power to use nuclear weapons without an act of Congress.

Oregon State governor, Kate Brown, says she’s our progressive champion; yet, she has remained quiet about the Pacific Connector Pipeline and the Jordon Cove Export Facility.

This proposed pipeline and export terminal would become one of the largest polluters in Oregon, use eminent domain to take property rights from private land owners so a Canadian company could sell cheap fracked gas to Asian markets, disturb Native American territories and burial grounds, endanger 400 waterways, estuaries, and salmon habitat. And that’s the best case scenario; if there are accidents or mishaps which are the rule not the exception with pipelines, the damage could be catastrophic. Learn more about the Jordan Cove Fracked Gas LNG Pipeline and Export Terminal. You can also read an informed viewpoint from Oregon youth.

In this song, we are asking “Guv’nor Kate Brown, Where are you?” And we ask the same question of our state legislature! You can ask the same question by signing this petition.

Guv’nor Kate Brown, Where are You?Sung to the tune of “Car 54, Where are you?”

They want a pipeline through the south
of our green and lovely state.
There’s a plan to clearcut forests
Drill through rivers, streams, and lakes.
Though the farmers may complain
Trump says’ “eminent domain!”

Guv’nor Kate Brown, where are you?

There’s some fracked gas miles away,
Plans to export through Coos Bay,
Cuz a company in Canada
Thinks Asia’s gonna pay.
If we want to be around
Gotta keep it in the ground!

Guv’nor Kate Brown, where are you?

18 million cubic yards
Is how much they want to dredge
and the thought of catastrophe
keeps all of us on edge.
Since the Big One’s gonna come
It would all be pretty dumb!

This annual awards ceremony formally recognizes and honors some of Portland’s most active and engaged community members for their outstanding contributions and hard work in the arts & culture, environmental, equity, and social justice issues. This year also we are recognizing those Standing Up for Love against Hate. Chloe Eudaly – Commissioner

The Portland Raging Grannies thanks Commissioner Eudaly, City Council, and Mayor Wheeler for honoring us with a Spirit of Portland Award. We are deeply honored by this recognition. One of the things Grannies do is participate in social activist events with organizations that share our mission which is promote peace and justice, human rights and equality, and environmental protection. We use humor, singing and choreography to bring attention to a cause, but we are serious about our mission. The rallies and marches we support and attend are largely organized by other social and environmentally conscious organizations. Some were honored at the 2017 Portland Spirit Awards. So The Portland Raging Grannies share this award with those dedicated activists and organizations.

This post was written by Joana, a member of the Portland Raging Grannies and friend of Grace Marian.

Our good friend and member of the Portland Raging Grannies, Grace Marion or Gracie Em, passed on this week. She was a Grannie for several years before leaving in 2015 for Botswana as a Peace Corp volunteer. She had a wonderful experience there. Sadly, she had to return when she discovered she had ALS.

She spent her days with her family in Maine and continued to be positive and interested in so many things. Last August she requested suggestions for Sci Fi books – perhaps to preview which new universe she was interested in moving to.

She loved being a part of the Grannies for conversations and activism. She was a delight in the actions, I just wish I had a photo with her in her leopard print Grannie gear. But this is close —-

She was also a long-time volunteer with KBOO, hosting shows, working the tables and the book and record sales, and always a delight to be with. Her many friends in Portland Oregon will miss her wonderful smile and her stellar spirit

Fossil Fuel Resistance Update via email listserv sent out as needed. Click on the link to send an email to sign-up.

Jewish Voices for Peace sends out emails on upcoming events, from protests to workshops to vigils/prayers to book group discussions, including the ICE prayer walks and vigils with Portland Buddhists for Peace

A large gaggle of Portland Raging Grannies were at the “Patriot Prayer” counter-protest rally September 10 in Terry Schrunk Plaza in Portland. We gathered at the at noon and practiced our songs with some folks looking on smiling and taking pictures. At about 12:30pm the program began with several community leaders from native, Latino/a, immigrant, Jewish and other groups espousing messages of love and peace. The march began around 1:30, and the Raging Grannies hustled to a corner to dance “Stand up for Your Rights” as the marchers passed by. Many stopped to join in singing and dancing and to take our pictures. The mood was enthusiastic and peaceful. When the end of the march line approached, the Grannies joined the march . We marched for several blocks with our banner and some songs.

Suddenly the police announced that the march had become violent and if you were a peaceful protester you needed to leave the area now or be subject to arrest. Some of our Grannies talked to the peacekeepers for the rally and they told us to keep marching since we had a permit to do so and there was no sign of violence. Most of us, heeding this advice, continued to march back to the park where we began. None of the Grannies witnessed the disturbances reported to have occurred. See this article from OPB for more information about the march.

As part of the Media Institute for Social Change, students of documentary making, Emily Curtis (Reed College, 2016) and Lucy Stevens (Carleton College, 2018) created a six-minute video about us. We are touched and honored by how well they captured our spirit and intent. You can view the other student films from the Summer 2017 Documentary Program as well.